Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Urges New CM Mohan Charan Majhi to Address Devotees’ Concerns

Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], July 11: The Leader of Opposition in Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, raising concerns over the felling of the Bada Thakura idol during the ‘Pahandi’ ritual. Patnaik stated that the incident has hurt many devotees and asked CM Majhi to take personal responsibility for the incident.

Patnaik emphasized that Lord Jagannath is a symbol of Odia pride, and lakhs of devotees gather in Puri every year for the Rath Yatra festival. He expressed his sadness over the incident and criticized the casual comments made by some BJP ministers, which he said have hurt the sentiments of devotees.

Patnaik urged CM Majhi to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future, believing that Majhi’s exemplary steps would reassure the devotees of Lord Jagannath.

Earlier, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) appointed new state-level and national-level spokespersons and dissolved its state-level office bearers. Mohan Charan Majhi took oath as Chief Minister of Odisha last month after the BJP’s victory in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections, ending Patnaik’s 24-year rule.